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November 2011

11/05/2011

As a kid I can remember a plethora of comic books about flying machines. Machines that gave individuals the opportunity to just take flight like a bird and zip across town. There have been Utopian flying contraptions conceived regularly since the 19th century. Always highly theoretical but enticing nonetheless.

For years scientists have conjured up prototypes that would fit the bill. Some fit better than others. Now a group out of MIT has put their mind to making a car you can park in your garage and drive to the local airport before taking to the air. While it is easy to remain skeptical (we have been promised such vehicles for decades) this prototype has 100 on reserve from customers and believe it will be available a year from now.

Imagine flying to Vernon for the weekend, landing at the local airport, folding up your wings and driving to your motel. Check this out. It might be coming to a carport near you.

11/03/2011

With all the doom in gloom in the papers regarding world economies, the local market appears stable with a slight increase in activity. A positive reading for the Victoria market.

November 1, 2011

Real estate sales activity showed a modest increase throughout Greater Victoria last month with a total of 483 homes and other properties selling through the Victoria Real Estate Board’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®), up from 458 sales in September. There were 467 sales in October of last year. Overall prices, meantime, remained mixed, depending on price measure and property type.

Victoria Real Estate Board President, Dennis Fimrite, said the increase in sales activity is good news and reflects ongoing stability in the market, "It is encouraging to note that sales last month were higher than in the previous month and compared to October of last year." Fimrite added that there will always be month-to-month fluctuations in prices and that average prices are particularly susceptible to change depending on whether more higher priced or lower priced properties sell in a particular month. "There was some general softening in most price measures last month but it is interesting to note that while the overall average price for single family homes declined last month, the median price actually rose by almost $5,000," noted Fimrite. He added that that there were 14 single family home sales of over $1 million in September including one on the Gulf Islands.

Fimrite added that the number of properties available for sale eased last month though inventory levels remained 16 per cent higher than a year ago. "The number of properties available for sale declined last month to 4,687 compared to 4,940 at the end of September."

The average price for single-family homes sold in Greater Victoria last month was $595,836, down from $622,393 in September. However, the median price increased to $539,750 while the six-month average decreased slightly to $619,828. The overall average price for condominiums last month was $307,329, down from $332,490 in September. The median price for condominiums in October declined only slightly to $277,000 while the average for the last six months declined to $323,039. The average price of all townhomes sold last month was $428,040 compared to $436,039 in September. The median price declined to $374,500 while the six month average declined to $438,167.